Magruder’s Government: HW #1
Homework #1: Chapter 1 Section 1 - Bateman
Read pages 1-11. Answer the following questions. They should be brief not long.
1. What do you think Nancy Kassebaum mean when she said: “democracy is both frustrating and invigorating?”
2. What are the two basic concepts that American democracy is based on?
3. How did Danny Seo serve as an example to all?
4. How did the US Gov respond to September 11?
5. What are other functions of government?
6. What kind of a institution is government?
7. Who exercises the powers of government?
8. What are public policies?
9. What are some examples of public policies?
10. What is power?
11. What are the 3 basic powers of government?
12. Where are the powers of government written?
13. What kind of government holds the powers in the hands of one person?
14. What kind of government is where the power is with the majority of the people?
15. Why did early civilizations invent government?
16. What did Aristotle mean when he said “man is by nature a political animal”?
17. Specifically, what is politics?
18. Why is politics neither good nor bad but necessary?
19. Define the term, the state.
20. How many states are there around the world today?
21. What is the differences between a state and a nation?
22. What is the population of San Marino?
23. Population of China?
24. The US?
25. What does the term homogeneous mean?
26. How big is San Marino?
27. Russia?
28. US?
29. What does the term sovereign mean?
30. What does sovereignty allow states to do?
31. What examples can you think of that shows how a state enforces its will to accomplish goals?
32. What did Hobbs mean when he said, “the war of every man against every man”?
33. What are some examples of places lacking government and therefore lack the basics of civilization?
34. What is the force theory?
35. What is the evolutionary theory?
36. What is the divine theory?
37. What special power did the emperor of Japan hold until 1945?
38. What is the Social Contract Theory?
39. Thomas Hobbs said that early man had unbridled freedom and yet could not protect himself from the actions of others. So which is greater government and security or unlimited freedom and survival of the fittest?
40. Explain how three things that are very different can coexist in a democracy: sovereignty, limited government, and individual rights.
41. According to the PREAMBLE of the Constitution what is the purpose of government?
42. Before 1787 what written form of government did the US have?
43. What strength is the Constitution built on?
44. What is justice?
45. Is this the most important duty of government? Explain why.
46. What would be an example of Martin Luther King’s quote: “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere?”
47. Is this true? Explain.
48. What is order and why is it essential to society?
49. What are some recent examples of American disorder?
50. What did Barbara Jordan mean when she said in 1976: “if one citizen is unwilling to participate, all of us are going to suffer.”
51. Why is national defense mentioned numerous times in the Constitution?
52. What are examples of promoting the general welfare?
53. What did the founders value above all things?
54. How can we treasure individual liberty yet we accept that liberty is not absolute?
55. How does Patriotism impact government?
56. What is a treatise?
57. Examine the picture of John Locke. Determine if he used curlers or if his hair is naturally curly. Perhaps a perm?
58. What is the natural state of man according to Locke?
59. What is the only way a person can be subjected to the power of another?
60. What gives a community the power to act as a body?
61. What would make a person who is completely free, equal, and independent want to join a society or community of other people?
62. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a charms tootsie pop?
Homework #2: Chapter 1 Section 2 and 3
Read pages 13-23. Answer the following questions.
1. What did Alex Pope say about government?
2. Does the form of government matter? Explain.
3. What are the 3 classifications of government?
4. What are the 2 basic forms of government?
5. In a democracy where does authority and power rest?
6. What did Lincoln say that best expresses this thought?
7. What would be an example of a direct democracy?
8. Why does direct democracy not exsist at a national level?
9. What are examples of indirect democracies?
10. Why do many consider the US a republic and not a democracy?
11. Why is a dictatorship the oldest form of government in the US?
12. What is the difference between an autocracy and oligarchy?
13. What are the best modern examples of a dictatorship?
14. Many dictatorships appear to be a democracy. Explain how this is done?
15. What is a unitary government?
16. What is a good example of unitary government?
17. What quality defines a federal government?
18. Besides the US, what other nations have a federal government?
19. What is the weakness of a confederation?
20. What is a modern confederation that has a great impact on the world’s economy?
21. What are two examples of confederation in US history?
22. Define propaganda.
23. Why is the use of propaganda a powerful tool in the political process?
24. What did James Bryce mean when he said: “No government demands so much from the citizen as Democracy, and none gives so much back.”?
25. Why do you think Winston Churchill believes that democracy is not perfect or all wise?
26. What are the 5 foundations of democracy?
27. How does democracy serve the individual and the society as a whole?
28. There is a difference between equality and the democratic sense of equality. Describe this difference.
29. What does the term “popular will” mean and how do we measure it?
30. How does a democracy protect the minority groups from the majority groups?
31. What process allows concepts such as the will of the majority and individual rights live together as one?
32. What did Kennedy mean when he said “The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.”?
33. How do we achieve the balance between extremes to make democracy work?
34. The American economic system is called:
35. List the four fundamental factors of our economic system:
36. Describe how the laws of supply and demand work.
37. Democracy and free enterprise have one thing in common. What is it?
38. What kind of economy is free enterprise and government regulated?
39. We have this today. Why?
40. What is positive about government regulation?
41. What is negative?
42. Thomas Jefferson would love the fact that the internet and democracy seem to be made for each other. Why do you think Jefferson would love to log in and surf the net, enter chat rooms, and so on?
43. How does the internet provide a hazard to democracy and responsible citizenship?
44. Why did Baker and Carr end up before the Supreme Court in 1962?
45. What arguments supported Baker?
46. What arguments supported Carr?
47. What decision did the Supreme Court make and why? Look on page 799
Homework #3: Chapter 2 Sec. 1 and 2 Origins of American Government
Read pages 26 to 39. Answer the questions.
1. What is unique about Daniel Webster’s quote?
2. What is the purpose of the International Student Activism Alliance?
3. What year was the Declaration of Independence written?
4. Constitution?
5. We borrowed most of our political system from the English. Who influenced the English political system?
6. According to the chart on page 29 what are the 4 documents that influence the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution?
7. What important functions does local government carry out?
8. What is a limited government?
9. How does a representative government work?
10. Why did English nobles force King John to sign the Magna Carta?
11. What is the Petition of Right?
12. Why did William and Mary draft an English Bill of Rights?
13. The first permanent English settlement in North America was?
14. What is the difference between a charter and a royal colony?
15. How did the colonial bicameral legislature work?
16. What was unique about the House of Burgesses in VA?
17. How were the proprietary colonies organized?
18. What is a good example of self government in colonial Rhode Island and Connecticut?
19. Look at the Magna Carta on page 33. What is similar to in the US Constitution?
20. What was Ben Franklin trying to say in his quote?
21. What geographic problem prevented the English from controlling to colonies and gave colonists great freedom?
22. Describe what the book means when it says that the relationship between Britain and the colonies had become federal.
23. Why did the British change this and begin taxing the colonies in the 1760s?
24. What war were the British trying to pay for through higher taxes?
25. Why did the colonists reject the claim of the British crown that they were subjects of the king and could be taxed?
26. What is special about the New England Confederation of 1643?
27. What was the purpose of the Albany Plan of Union?
28. Who was the author of the plan?
29. Why did the colonies reject this?
30. What was the Stamp Act of 1765?
31. How did the colonists respond to this?
32. How did the colonists organize themselves and communicate?
33. What actions did the 1st Continental Congress take?
34. Why did the King repeal many of the acts and taxes?
35. What event led to the 2nd Continental Congress?
36. What are two important actions taken by the 2nd Continental Congress?
Homework #4: Chapter 2 Sec. 3-5
Read pages 44-59. Answer the questions.
1. What is meant when the author says the 1st and 2nd Continental Congress rested on no legal basis?
2. What was the first permanent plan of government called?
3. Why do you think it took it took 5 years to ratify the plan?
4. Which state was holding up approval of the plan?
5. How many votes did each state have?
6. Why is there only a legislative branch? No executive or judicial branch is provided for.
7. What are the 10 powers of government under the Articles?
8. Why did the states have more powers than Congress?
9. What was the greatest weakness of the Articles?
10. Why did they not give Congress the power to make states obey laws made by Congress?
11. What was the cause of the states being in conflict with each other after the Revolution?
12. What did George Washington say about the Articles?
13. How did the Articles help create a financial crisis that would lead to Shay’s Rebellion?
14. What important meeting occurred at Mt. Vernon in March of 1785?
15. What was decided at the Annapolis Convention?
16. Describe the scene that the Constitution was written in? Look on page 48.
17. Who are the “Framers”?
18. What can be said of the background of the 55 Framers?
19. Why were famous Americans such as Franklin, Henry, Richard Henry Lee, John Hancock, Jefferson, and Adams absent from the Constitutional Convention?
20. What important rule did the Convention make to conduct business?
21. Why did they work in secret?
22. What did Edmond Randolph propose n May 30th?
23. Why was there such a bitter debate over Randolph’s proposal?
24. Who was the author of the VA Plan?
25. What did the VA Plan propose?
26. Why did small states oppose this plan?
27. What did the New Jersey Plan propose?
28. What were the 2 problems with the New Jersey Plan?
29. What did Franklin say in jest to help the delegates work through the arguments?
30. How did the Connecticut Compromise save the day?
31. Which two states had the most slaves? Look at the chart on page 52.
32. Why would southern states want to count slaves as citizens?
33. How did the 3/5ths Compromise satisfy southern states?
34. What was the price southern states had to pay for the 3/5ths Compromise?
35. Why were southerners worried about the power to regulate trade?
36. What was the Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise?
37. What is meant by the term bundle of compromises?
38. What is so difficult in the process of building a compromise?
39. Who were 4 philosophers who influenced the thoughts of the Framers?
40. What happened on Sept, 17, 1787?
41. How many states had to approve the Constitution to ratify it?
42. Who are the Federalists?
43. Who are the Anti Federalists?
44. What were two parts of the Constitution that drew the most criticism?
45. Who ratified the Constitution first?
46. Why was Virginia’s ratification so important?
47. What role did the Federalist Paper’s play in ratification?
Homework #5: Chapter 3 Sec. 1
Read pages 62 to 71. Answer the questions. Be prepared for a quiz next class.
1. What is the meaning of Jefferson’s quote?
2. How many new voters were created in 1971 with the ratification of the 26th Amendment?
3. What is meant by the expression: “The Constitution is the supreme law of the land”.
4. How many words are in the Constitution? What is impressive about this?
5. Why is the Constitution based on principles and not details with provisions?
6. What is in the Preamble?
7. How many articles are in the Constitution? What is the subject of each article?
8. Why is popular sovereignty perhaps the most important part of the Constitution?
9. How is popular sovereignty expressed in the Preamble?
10. What is the principle of limited government?
11. What is meant by the expression: “the government must obey the law”.?
12. Why is the Constitution essentially a statement of limited government?
13. How can we best see the idea of separation of powers in the 1780 Massachusetts Constitution?
14. How would you describe the language, diction, and tone of the separation of powers in Article 1, 2, and 3?
15. How did James Madison defend the separation of powers?
16. How do checks and balances keep the three branches from being totally separated?
17. Give an example of the president exercising checks and balances.
18. Give an example of the Congress exercising checks and balances.
19. Give an example of the Supreme Court exercising checks and balances.
20. Why do checks and balances rarely result in head on clashes between the branches of government?
21. Who are the only presidents to be impeached in US History?
22. Why did the Framers of the Constitution want to prevent an unjust combination of the majority?
23. What is meant by the term divided government on page 68?
24. What are the pros and cons of a divided government?
25. What is judicial review?
26. Judicial review is not in the Constitution. So how do we know that the Framers wanted courts to have this power?
27. The Articles of Confederation were weak and a failure. The rule of King George the III is too strong and tyranny. Why is federalism and the US Constitution a perfect compromise to face the challenges of the last 200 years?
28. Using the analogy above. What figure from children’s literature would pick the Constitution because it was just right.?
Homework #6: Chapter 3 Sec. 2-3
Read pages 72 to 83. Answer the questions.
1. In what ways has the US grown from 1789 to now?
2. How has the Constitution endured the amazing changes and growth?
3. What are the two basic ways to change the Constitution?
4. What are two steps involved in the first method of amending the Constitution?
5. What are two steps involved in the second method of amending the Constitution?
6. What are two steps involved in the third method of amending the Constitution?
7. What are two steps involved in the fourth method of amending the Constitution?
8. What did the amendment conventions of 1975 and 1983 call for?
9. What do you think of this idea?
10. Which method is best for proposing amendments: The formal process that begins at the federal level or the convention process that is decided at the state level?
11. Explain why.
12. When Congress proposes an amendment why is the signature of the president unnecessary?
13. Why did the framers decide to do the following:
a state can reject an amendment, it is not bound to that decision, a state can change its mind and reconsider later.
A state that has approved an amendment cannot change its mind later. It is bound to a final and unchangeable decision.
14. What are the benefits and drawbacks of this arrangement?
15. How many proposed amendments have there been?
16. How many were ratified?
17. What are the first ten amendments called?
18. Why was the 12th Amendment added?
19. Why was the 22nd Amendment added?
20. Why is the amendment process an important tool to reacting to historical events?
21. Why did Jefferson want to add a Bill of Rights?
22. What did Madison say was a greater danger to individual rights?
23. What was Madison talking about when he said the Bill of Rights was a parchment barrier?
24. Describe the process of informal amendments.
25. What are the 5 ways this can be done?
26. How does the Constitution empower Congress to be a major agent of informal amendments?
27. Why is this essential to government?
28. How can the President/Executive be an agent of informally amending the Constitution?
29. What is an executive agreement?
30. How can the Supreme Court be an agent of informal amendments?
31. What court case empowered the Supreme Court?
32. In 1796, what warning did George Washington give Americans?
33. Why did the Constitution not provide a method of nominating presidential candidates?
34. What is meant when the book says the electoral college is a “rubber stamp” for each state’s popular vote?
35. What is an unwritten custom?
36. What are some examples of customs practiced by the President?
37. Why are presidential customs important and enduring?
38. What does the 8th amendment declare?
39. What happened to Ingraham and Andrews in 1970 down in Florida?
40. Why did these 8th and 9th graders sue the school?
41. What was the first court ruling? Why?
42. What step did the students take next?
43. What decision did the appeals court make?
44. Turn to page 802. What decision did the Supreme Court make about Corporal Punishment?
45. What would you do if you were to be paddeled by Mr. Starzenski for violating a school rule?
Homework #7: Chapter 4
Read pages 86 to 111. Answer the questions.
1. What did Sandra Day O’Conner mean in her quote on page 86?
2. Why federalism a complex system of government?
3. List the 3 reasons why the Framers picked federalism as the new style of government.
4. We know federalism is a division of power between states and the national government. Describe what is meant by this “dual system of government”.
5. What are some examples of federalism working for the federal and state governments?
6. What does the term delegated powers mean?
7. What are examples of expressed powers?
8. What are implied powers?
9. What does the expression “necessary and proper” mean?
10. What are some examples of implied powers?
11. What are inherent powers?
12. Can you give an example?
13. What are the 3 ways the national government is denied powers?
14. What does the 10th Amendment mean when it says that the states are government with reserved powers?
15. Why does the Constitution grant so much power to the states?
16. Why does the Constitution deny the power to print money, make treaties, etc to states?
17. What is an example of an exclusive power for our national government?
18. Some powers are concurrent. What does that mean?
19. Give an example of concurrent power.
20. How many units of local government are in the US?
21. If federalism only allows for state and national levels of government, why are there so many local governments?
22. What does the supremacy clause state?
23. Why is this essential to federalism?
24. What court case established the supremacy of the federal government?
25. Who was the chief justice in the case?
26. Read page 96. What parts of the Constitution protects us from a strong central government?
27. According to Linda Chavez, why is the expansion of federal power in the last 75 years a danger?
28. Why does she believe that many functions of national government should be shifted back to the states?
29. What are the two ways the Constitution preserves the union of 50 states?
30. What is a republican form of government?
31. Who really decides what a republican form of government is?
32. When was the only time that Congress declared that some states did not have a republican form of government?
33. What does the Constitution mean when it says each state and the national government must provide protection against domestic violence?
34. What are some examples of the federal government restoring peace in some states?
35. What is the only state added to the US that was an independent country?
36. What are the 5 steps that must occur to add a new state?
37. What condition did Congress set for the admission of Utah as a state?
38. Why did Taft veto the bill to admit Arizona as a new state?
39. In what ways can federalism foster cooperation between national government and states?
40. Describe a grant in aid program?
41. Why is this an effective way to help states?
42. What is revenue sharing?
43. Between 1972 and 1987 how much revenue was shared between states and the national government?
44. List the 3 types of federal grants that can be given to states?
45. How can the FBI and the US military help states?
46. In what ways can state police and the National Guard help the federal government?
47. What are interstate compacts?
48. How is the Port Authority of New York an example of interstate compacts?
49. The “full faith and credit” clause of the Constitution is essential. Why?
50. What are the 2 exceptions to this clause?
51. What did the court case Williams v. North Carolina decide?
52. What does the word extradition mean?
53. How does the Constitutional clause “privileges and immunities” allow Americans to travel freely and live in any state that they want to?
54. Describe the background information for the case Printz v. US.
55. What was the most important argument for Printz?
56. What was the most valid argument for the US?
57. Turn to page 804. What did the court decide?
Homework #8: Chapter 5
Read pages 114 to 145. Answer the questions.
1. According to page 114 how does a 2 party system work?
2. Evaluate John Stuart Mill’s quote on page 114.
3. How does Vince Lombardi’s quote apply to politics?
4. What is a political party?
5. In what way are political parties a vital link between government and the people?
6. Why are political parties the best way to nominate political candidates?
7. In what ways do political parties inform and energize voters?
8. How does the political party act as a bonding agent?
9. What does the term partisanship mean?
10. What is the primary purpose of a political party that is out of power?
11. What are the benefits and drawbacks of political parties acting as watchdogs?
12. Under the two party system why do minor parties have a limited chance of winning an election?
13. What is the historical basis for the 2 party system?
14. Explain why being a Democrat or a Republican is a tradition for many Americans.
15. What is the only way to win an election in a single member district?
16. What does the term bipartisan mean?
17. Give examples of Democrats and Republicans acting in a bipartisan way.
18. What is a pluralistic society?
19. What issues in the past have united the pluralistic American society?
20. What issues in the past have divided the pluralistic American society?
21. How do political parties achieve ideological consensus?
22. What is a multiparty system?
23. How and why do multiparty systems build coalitions to achieve goals in government?
24. Why is a one party system really a no party system?
25. How do you become a member of a political party?
26. What did a study show on page 123 about influence of parents on their children’s choice for political parties?
27. Look at the chart on page 124. Which party wants the free pursuance of happiness and not the regulation of it? Which party is made up of environment grassroots activists?
28. What did Shakespeare mean when he said “the past is prolougue”?
29. What did the Federalists want to achieve in government?
30. What were the goals of Jefferson’s Republicans?
31. What is an incumbent?
32. American political parties have held power over 4 major eras. In what way can they shape history over long periods of time?
33. What happened to the Democratic Republicans during the 1820s?
34. How did Andrew Jackson unite them?
35. Why did the Whig party fail to be more influential in the 1840s?
36. What event allowed the Republicans to take charge for a long time starting in 1860?
37. What does the term sectionalism mean?
38. What event brought the Democrats back to power in 1932?
39. How did Nixon bring the Republicans back in 1968?
40. Do you think that 2008 is the beginning of a new era in political history?
41. What is the value of having minor political parties?
42. What is an ideological party? An example?
43. What is a single issue party? An example?
44. What is an economic protest party? Example?
45. What are splinter parties? Example?
46. Which of the 4 above is the most successful?
47. How can minor parties play the role of spoiler in a national election?
48. Look on page 136. What are the major goals of Ralph Nader’s Green Party?
49. Why are political parties decentralized?
50. How can a sitting president strengthen his political party?
51. What is the National Convention for?
52. The chief purpose of the National Committee for a major party is to what?
53. The National Chairperson main purpose is to?
54. Why do political parties organize at the national, state, and local level?
55. What is the future of the major political parties?
Homework #9: Chapter 6
Read pages 147 to 175. 20 question multiple choice quiz next class.
1. Evaluate if Jesse Jackson’s quote on page 146 is valid for the election of 2008.
2. In the past most 18 years olds have not registered to vote. Why?
3. 2008 is different. A record number of young voters are registered now. Why?
4. What does the term franchise and suffrage mean?
5. About how many Americans make up the electorate?
6. List the 5 stages of expanding suffrage in American history:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
7. Of the 5 stages which is the most important? WHY?
8. Who has the power to set voting qualifications?
9. What are the 5 Constitutional restrictions on states when they set voting qualifications?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
10. What are the 3 universal requirements to vote?
a. b. c.
11. Why do states limit transients from voting?
12. Some states allow 17 year olds to vote. How can they do that?
13. What is the only state that does not require voter registration?
14. What do you have to tell a registrar to register to vote? 5 items.
15. What is the official list of voters called?
16. Why do registrars purge the poll books from time to time?
17. Why was literacy once a requirement to vote?
18. What was the purpose of the poll tax?
19. Look at page 158. What are the dangers of voter apathy?
20. What does the 15th Amendment state?
21. Define the practice of gerrymandering?
22. Why do political parties do this?
23. How did the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and 1960 protect the right to vote?
24. Why is the Civil Rights Act of 1964 better than the first 2?
25. Why was Dr. King demonstrating in Selma, Alabama?
26. What did the 1965 Voting Rights Act state?
27. What is an injunction?
28. How can they be used to protect our constitutional rights?
29. What is the preclearance process?
30. Why did the Supreme Court uphold the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
31. How have amendments to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 helped to protect us from voting discrimination?
32. What does the ancient Greek word idiot mean?
33. What are the justifications for the idiots in American elections?
34. What are the reasons for only 50% of the voting population actually voting?
35. What does the term “cannot voter” mean?
36. What are some of the reasons why millions cannot vote?
37. In 2000 how many actual nonvoters were there?
38. What does the term political efficacy mean?
39. How does the time zone impact voter turnout?
40. How can weather impact voter turnout?
41. Where do most nonvoters live?
42. Who is more likely to vote: men or women?
43. What are the 3 sources of data we can gather about voting behavior?
44. How can education influence voting?
45. How can income/occupation influence voting?
46. How can gender influence voting?
47. How can religion influence voting?
48. How can ethnicity influence voting?
49. How can geography influence voting?
50. Why do most Americans never change which party they vote for?
Homework #10: Chapter 7 Homework
Read pages 176 to 203. Answer the questions.
1. Read Marian Edelman’s quote. Is she right?
2. What is the first step in the process of candidate selection called?
3. List the 5 ways a nomination is made in the US.
4. When does a candidate use the self nomination process?
5. Define the term caucus.
6. What are some of the reasons for criticizing the caucus process?
7. Why has the caucus process all but disappeared?
8. How many levels are there in the convention process?
9. In theory how does the convention process represent the will of the people?
10. Why did the quality of conventions decline over time?
11. Define the term Direct Primary.
12. Why are direct primaries so important to the election process today?
13. What is the difference between a closed primary and a open primary?
14. How does a blanket primary operate?
15. What reason did the Supreme Court give for ruling against blanket primaries?
16. How does the closed primary benefit political parties?
17. When does a runoff primary occur?
18. Why are nonpartisan primaries not identified by political party?
19. What are some criticisms of the open primary?
20. What are some criticisms of the closed primary?
21. Which is the best one?
22. In what are Presidential Primary the most important of all?
23. How does nominating by petition work?
24. Look at page 187. Who convinced Americans that the Primary Election process was better than conventions and caucuses?
25. What were his chief arguments?
26. How many officeholders are elected on regular basis in the US?
27. HG Wells said that election time “is the great function” of democracy. Is he right or wrong? Explain.
28. What are the 3 controls the Constitution has over elections?
29. When are most elections held?
30. What are the 3 conditions for absentee balloting?
31. Define the coattail effect.
32. How can the coattail effect work both ways, positive and negative?
33. What is a precinct and a polling place?
34. Who are poll watchers?
35. What are the different ways to take advantage of the ballot to change election results?
36. What are the features of the Australian Ballot?
37. What is an major advantage of the party column ballot?
38. Why do political parties pass out sample ballots prior to elections?
39. Why are bedsheet ballots criticized?
40. Who invented the first voting machine?
41. What is the most widely used version of the Electronic data processing technique for balloting?
42. How has voting by mail process brought up great criticism?
43. Why will Online or E voting likely spread?
44. What are the concerns with E voting?
45. How much money was spent in the election of 2000?
46. Where is the greatest expenditure in campaigning?
47. What are the 5 sources of campaign funding?
48. Why do people give money for campaign financing?
49. Who is in charge of regulating the campaign spending?
50. What is a disclosure requirement?
51. Why are there limits on the amount one can contribute to a campaign?
52. What is a PAC?
53. Why are they critical to the election process?
Homework #11: Chapter 8
Read pages 206-231. Answer the questions. Be ready for a quiz.
1. What did Judge Hand mean in his quote on page 206?
2. What is the difference between public opinion and private opinion?
3. In what way is public opinion the sum of all views?
4. Why do public opinions come from single issue groups of people?
5. Define the term public affairs.
6. The book says that public opinion is really the attitudes held by a significant number of people. What does the term attitude mean in this statement?
7. How is public opinion formed?
8. What role does the family play in shaping public opinion?
9. How does school shape public opinion differently from the family?
10. How can gender, race, and occupation shape public opinions?
11. Define the term mass media.
12. What does the Census Bureau reveal about TV in America?
13. What is a peer group?
14. How can peer groups be a powerful influence on public opinion?
15. What is a opinion leader?
16. What are examples of opinion leaders?
17. How can historic events such as the Great Depression shape public opinion?
18. What impact did the Great Depression have on American politics?
19. How did the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy impact American politics?
20. Look on page 214. How much has Hispanic media increased?
21. What advantages do Latino media outlets offer to Hispanics?
22. What is the most common way to measure public opinion?
23. How can voting, lobbying, books, pamphlets, etc be considered a measurement of public opinion?
24. What is meant by the expression, “the winning candidate has a mandate from the people”?
25. Is #24 true? Explain why or why not.
26. Why are public officials skeptical of the influence of interest groups?
27. How does the media become a molder of public opinion?
28. How do elected officials use personal contacts as a way to gauge public opinion?
29. Why are polls the most accurate way to measure public opinion?
30. The first type of polling used was a straw poll. Why is this a limited way to measure public opinion?
31. What happened in the 1936 Literary Digest poll?
32. What was wrong with the Digest poll?
33. How does scientific polling eliminate many common polling errors?
34. In the polling world, what is a universe?
35. How do pollsters constructe a sample of the universe?
36. What is the difference between a random sample and a quota sample?
37. How can careful wording create valid questions for a poll?
38. How are most polls conducted?
39. What are the advantages and disadvantages to polling?
40. What did Lord Bryce mean when he said the US is a government by polling?
41. What is a medium?
42. What are the most powerful mediums available to shape public opinion with?
43. What are the challenges to TV as a medium? What is replacing TV slowly?
44. How many newspapers are published daily in the US?
45. Why have newspapers declined? What are they being replaced with?
46. Which political figure was the master of radio and politics?
47. What is the public agenda and how does media play in role in setting this agenda?
48. What are the limits to the influence of media?
Homework #12: Chapter 9 Interest Groups
Read pages 234-257. Answer the questions below.
1. What do interests groups represent? Look on page 234.
2. Is GHW Bush right in his comments?
3. What is the purpose of interest groups?
4. Why are interest groups a fundamental part of the democratic process?
5. How do interest groups shape public policy?
6. How can interest groups shape the outcome of political primaries and elections?
7. What was James Madison’s 1787 warning about factions?
8. What did De Tocqueville think of interest groups?
9. How can an interest group stimulate interest in public affairs?
10. What is the difference in values when you compare an interest group to an elected official?
11. List the 6 valuable functions of interest groups.
12. What is the negative nickname given to interest groups?
13. What are the 4 negative factors about interest groups?
14. What is unique about the interest group Habitat for Humanity?
15. Why do interest groups come in all shapes and sizes?
16. Name the particular interest that most interest groups focus on.
17. Name the oldest interest group?
18. Why did it form in 1862?
19. Why is the Chamber of Commerce one of the most influential interest groups?
20. What are trade associations?
21. Why do most business interest groups fight one another instead of working together?
22. Why has membership in labor unions declined since the 1970s?
23. What does the AFL-CIO stand for?
24. Why is the AFL-CIO one of the most powerful labor unions in the US?
25. Why do most labor unions cooperate with each other?
26. How many Americans live on farms today?
27. Why is the Grange so powerful as an interest group?
28. What are the 3 major professional interest groups?
29. What cause does the ACLU promote?
30. Which group protects the rights of senior citizens?
31. Which group protects civil rights for minorities?
32. What is the difference between an interest group and a “public interest group”?
33. Read page 248. What is the primary purpose of the Urban League?
34. Of the 10 commandments, which one is likely to be the most effective?
35. What are the 3 goals interest groups have in mind to influence public opinion?
36. Why is propaganda neither true nor false?
37. What is the weakness of not using objective logic in propaganda?
38. How have labels and name calling helped propagandists?
39. How has propaganda spread through mass media?
40. Why are interest groups very careful in planning support for either a Democrat or Republican in a particular election?
41. Why do political figures need the support of interest groups?
42. What function does a interest groups political action committee play?
43. Why is the art of lobbying the most important contribution of an interest group?
44. Look at the chart on page 251. Which PAC has grown the most?
45. Why do lobbyists work with the legislative and executive branches?
46. What are some other names for a lobbyist?
47. What skills/knowledge must a lobbyist have to be effective?
48. What are grass roots?
49. Why do lobbyists seek the support of grass roots?
50. What 1946 law regulates lobbyists?
51. Why does the law’s phrase “principal purpose provide a loophole for lobbyists?
52. How was this corrected in 1995?
53. Why did Flast challenge the 1965 education law?
54. What is legal standing?
55. What was the main argument in favor of Flast’s challenge?
56. Look on page 800. What was the ruling of the court?
Homework #13: Chapter 10
Read pages 260-287.
1. Look on page 260. What was Wilson’s views on Congress?
2. In what way does Congress carry out the basic fundamental function of government?
3. Why did James Madison and Framers consider Congress the first and most important branch of government?
4. What is the historical reason for creating a bicameral legislature?
5. What is the practical reason for creating a bicameral legislature?
6. What was the theoretical reason for creating a bicameral legislature?
7. What did Washington to mean when he told Jefferson “we pour legislation into the senatorial saucer to cool it down”?
8. What was Madison’s reason for having 2 houses in Congress?
9. Should the states be represented equally in the Senate?
10. How long is a term in the House of Representatives?
11. Why was there a four month gap between each term in Congress?
12. Why was the start date for a term of Congress changed from March to January?
13. How many sessions are in a term of Congress?
14. How long does a typical session of Congress last?
15. What power over Congress has the President never used?
16. When can a President call for a special session of Congress?
17. When was the last time this was done?
18. Take a look at the cartogram on page 266. Which states were geographically larger but not represented correctly on the map? Why is this map distorted in appearance?
19. What is the exact size of the House of Representatives?
20. How is this number determined?
21. Where are the special delegates in the House of Representatives from?
22. Why are they not full fledged members of Congress?
23. What is the disadvantage of a Congressman facing a two year term?
24. How many terms can a Congressman win?
25. What does reapportionment mean?
26. IN 1792, why did the size of Congress increase from 41 to 106 members?
27. Why did reapportionment stop in 1920?
28. Why did Congress pass the Reapportionment Act of 1929?
29. Did it work?
30. When are Congressional elections held?
31. What is an off year election?
32. Why are they important?
33. Look at the Off Year Election Chart, why did Republicans lose seats in 1974 and the Democrats lose seats in 1994?
34. For the first 50 years how did each state select members of Congress?
35. What were the 4 additions added to the process of selecting members of Congress?
36. What does the Constitution say about congressional districts?
37. Define the term gerrymandering?
38. Why is gerrymandering widespread today?
39. What method is most used in gerrymandering to achieve a political party’s goal?
40. What was the Supreme Court’s decision in Wesberry v. Sanders in 1964?
41. Why is this case so important?
42. What are the 3 Constitutional requirements for the House of Representatives?
43. Can Congress refuse to seat a newly elected member?
44. What happened to Brigham Roberts in 1900?
45. How many members of the House have been expelled?
46. What is a reprimand? Why was Congressman Frank reprimanded?
47. What are the informal qualifications for membership in the House?
48. Why did the Framers make the Senate so small?
49. What does Madison mean when he said that the Senate was “a necessary fence against the fickleness and passions of the House”?
50. Who used to elect or select Senators?
51. How did this change in 1913?
52. How long is a Senators term?
53. Who holds the record?
54. What is meant when the book says that most Senators terms are staggered?
55. What is a continuous body?
56. What is the advantage to a 6 year term?
57. Why do Senators get more exposure and press?
58. What are the qualification for becoming a member of the Senate?
59. Why is Congress not a real representation of the US?
60. What are some typical backgrounds of members of Congress?
61. What are the 5 major roles of members of Congress?
62. What is a trustee? Partisan?
63. Why is the oversight function important to committee work?
64. How much do Senators make?
65. Congressmen?
66. What is the Franking Privilige?
Homework #14: Chapter 11 Powers of Congress
Read pages 288-316.
1. According to Senator Collins Congress has an infinite number or powers. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Why?
2. What gives the impression of unlimited power in Congress?
3. What are the 2 real limits to Congress?
4. What are expressed powers?
5. What are implied powers?
6. What are inherent powers?
7. What are the arguments of strict constructionists of the Constitution?
8. Who were they led by?
9. What are the arguments of liberal constructionists of the Constitution?
10. Who were they led by?
11. According to the book which view has become the consensus of the people?
12. Look at page 293. In your opinion what are the 3 most important leadership qualities a member of Congress should have?
13. How many clauses give Congress explicit powers?
14. Why do so many questions arise in the interpretation of each clause in the Constitution?
15. What is the purpose of taxes?
16. What are the 4 limits on Congress when considering the tax issue?
17. Look at the graph on page 295. What 2 items do we spend almost half of the tax dollars on?
18. Look at page 296. Why would one consider moving to Mozambique?
19. Why is Sweden only a nice place to visit?
20. Where does the US fall in the tax bite graph?
21. What is deficit financing?
22. How much debt did we have in 1999? Now?
23. How does the government borrow money from itself?
24. What is commerce power?
25. How did the commerce clause help establish the US from a weak nation to a strong one?
26. Describe the circumstances in the case Gibbon v. Ogden.
27. What was the ruling of John Marshall and the Supreme Court?
28. What are 4 limits placed on the Commerce Clause?
29. Why are states excluded from the power to print currency?
30. When was legal tender created? What is legal tender?
31. What is bankruptcy? Why did the framers put this in the Constitution?
32. What are the 2 sources of power Congress has in foreign relations?
33. What are the 8 powers of Congress in regards to war powers?
34. Who are the 9 million naturalized citizens?
35. Why did the Framers consider the Postal Service one of the most important parts of the Constitution?
36. Framers protected Authors and Inventors by giving Congress the power to regulate what? 2 things.
37. Why does Congress have the explicit power to set weights and standards? What are weights and standards?
38. What is eminent domain?
39. Is this right or wrong? Why?
40. What does the term appropriate mean?
41. Why is the Necessary and Proper Clause essential to the liberal constructionist viewpoint of the Constitution?
42. Describe the circumstances that surrounded the first battle over implied powers.
43. What did the ruling of McCullough v. Maryland establish?
44. Look at the chart on page 308. How do implied powers and expressed powers go hand in hand?
45. What is the electoral role of Congress?
46. How many presidents have been impeached?
47. What was the result in each one?
48. What was Bill Clinton convicted of?
49. What power was important to the House Judiciary Committee that investigated the Richard Nixon Watergate Scandal?
50. What are the 2 executive powers given to the senate?
Homework #15: Chapter 12 Congress In Action
Read pages 318 to 349. This homework is important. Lots of test questions come from this chapter.
1. Explain why Kennedy’s statement about Congress on page 318 is true.
2. How many people work for Congress?
3. How much money does Congress spend on itself each year?
4. On the first day of business in a new House of Representative session what are the 6 items of business that must be done. Look on page 321.
a. b. c. d. e. f.
5. In the House chamber where do the Democrats sit and where do the Republicans sit?
6. Who are the 4 non members of the House elected on the first day of the term?
7. How many pages are in the House rules book?
8. Why is the opening day of the Senate less chaotic than the opening day of the House?
9. What does the Constitution say about the “State of the Union” address?
10. Why is the “State of the Union” address one of the biggest political events of the year?
11. Who attends the speech?
12. Why is the Speaker of the House the most powerful person in Congress?
13. Who is the current Speaker of the House? Not in the book.
14. What are the 2 expected goals of the Speaker?
15. The Speakers specific powers revolve around two important duties: What are they?
16. How does the Speaker control debate?
17. What are 6 other important powers that the Speaker controls?
18. Why is the President of the Senate not a Senator?
19. Who holds this important position?
20. Why is President of the Senate not allowed to speak or debate?
21. The power of the President of the Senate comes from what special ability of the office holder?
22. Many Presidents of the Senate have gone on to become even more important. What office have they moved up to?
23. Who is the other presiding officer of the Senate?
24. Why is Congress organized along party lines?
25. What is the party caucus?
26. Why is the party caucus essential to achieving goals?
27. Who are the floor leaders and party whips?
28. Why are these legislative assistants essential to accomplishing the party agenda?
29. Where is most of the legislative work of Congress done at?
30. Why are committee chairman important to accomplishing the legislative work of Congress?
31. What is the seniority rule?
32. Why has the seniority rule come under scrutiny lately?
33. Why is comparing the committee work of Congress to “the division of labor” a good comparison?
34. What are standing committees?
35. Look at page 330. In your opinion what are the 3 most important standing committees?
36. Which party dominates each committee?
37. Who are the traffic cops of the Congress?
38. Why is this committee the most powerful of all?
39. How many members are on each committee?
40. Why are select committees formed?
41. Who are the members of joint committees?
42. Why are they needed?
43. What is a bill?
44. Where do they originate from?
45. What are the 3 types of bills?
46. Name an event or issue that would require a joint resolution?
47. What is a rider?
48. Why are riders both helpful and intrusive?
49. What does the term HR 3410 mean?
50. Where is the bill recorded?
51. Why is each bill read 3 times before Congress?
52. After the first reading where does the Speaker refer the bill?
53. What is a sieve?
54. How are the standing committees sieves for the 100s of bills that come through Congress?
55. Why are most bills pigeon holed? What does this mean?
56. What are the 4 actions of a subcommittee?
57. How many calanders are in Congress?
58. What role do calendars play in the life of a bill?
59. How does the Rules Committee make or break a bill?
60. When a bill finally makes it back to the House of Representatives, most of the time the bill is before the Committee of the Whole. Why is this needed to pass? Why is it important?
61. What is a quorum?
62. Why are there limits on the amount of time a member can speak on the floor of the House?
63. What does the term “move the previous question” mean?
64. Why are bills often voted on several times before they are approved by the House?
65. What are the 4 methods of taking floor votes in the House?
66. What does it mean when a bill becomes engrossed?
67. How does the Senate deal with each bill?
68. Why are the rules of debate less severe in the Senate?
69. What is a filibuster?
70. Why are filibusters effective and sometimes a obstacle?
71. What is cloture? Does it work?
72. What are conference committees?
73. What are the 4 actions that a president can take when a bill clears the House and Senate?
Homework #16: Chapter 13 The Presidency
Read pages 352 to 385.
1. What did Johnson mean in his quote on page 352?
2. What are the 8 roles of the president?
3. Which president has best filled the role of commander in chief?
4. Chief of State?
5. Chief Administrator?
6. Chief Diplomat?
7. Which president has filled all 8 roles very well?
8. What are the 3 formal qualifications to serve as president?
9. Why did the two term tradition become an unwritten rule?
10. Which president made it necessary to pass the 22nd Amendment?
11. Why would notable presidents such as Reagan and Truman want to repeal the 22nd Amendment?
12. What do you think of Carter and Johnson’s idea of 1 6 year term?
13. How much does the president make?
14. How many rooms are in the White House?
15. What is the name of the president’s hideaway in Maryland?
16. Who was the first vice president to succeed a president because of death?
17. How many people have to die, resign, or be impeached before the Sec. Of Education becomes president?
18. Why did Congress pass the Presidential Succession Act of 1947?
19. Why did Reagan transfer power to the vice president in 1985?
20. What did Adams mean in his quote on page 361?
21. What are the 2 formal duties of the Vice President?
22. How does picking a vice president “balance the ticket” for an election?
23. How many times has the office of vice president been vacant?
24. Why did Congress wait until 1967 to clarify the succession of vice presidents with the 25th Amendment?
25. Why is Dick Cheney regarded as the most influential Vice Prez in history?
26. Originally who did the Framers want to elect the president?
27. Why did they distrust the popular vote?
28. How does the Electoral College protect the election of the president from the”angry mob”?
29. What was the intention of the Framers when selecting Electors to serve in the College?
30. How did the rise of political parties threaten the electoral process?
31. Why is the Election of 1800 spectacular?
32. How does the 12th Amendment fix the problems in the electoral process?
33. Conventions were used during which years of history?
34. How are delegates at a convention apportioned?
35. Look on page 369. What does the book mean when it says there are really 2 campaigns for the presidency?
36. What are the two things decided at a state level presidential primary?
37. Why has the presidential primary waxed and waned over the years?
38. How do state level presidential primaries drive up the cost of campaigning?
39. What is the difference between winner take all primaries and proportional primaries?
40. What do the critics say is wrong with the presidential primary?
41. Why does it ultimately still work well?
42. Describe the Convention Caucus Process.
43. What are the 3 major goals to achieve at a National Convention?
44. What is the high point of the first two days of a National Convention?
45. Why is constructing a political platform the most important part of the first two days of a National Convention?
46. What happens during the last 2 days of a National Convention?
47. In the past, what types of candidates are selected at a Convention?
48. What characteristics give a candidate the best chance of gaining the nomination? List 4.
49. Why are electors in the college just “rubber stamps” today?
50. How are electors chosen today?
51. How are the electoral votes counted today?
52. What are the 3 major defects of the electoral college?
53. Which is the most serious?
54. There are 5 proposed reforms to the electoral college system. Describe each
District Plan
Proportional Plan
Direct Popular Election
National Bonus Plan
Electoral College Supporters
55. Which one is the best and why?
56. Why is likely that no reforms will be made in the near future?
Homework #17: Chapter 14 The Presidency In Action
Read pages 388-411
1. What is unique about President Truman’s remarks on page 388?
2. How can current events and personality shape a president’s power?
3. Which article of the Constitution explains the executive branch?
4. Why does the book say that Article II is of “sketchy character”?
5. Why has the president’s power grown and not Congress?
6. Look at the chart on page 391. What is the common message?
7. What are the benefits of serving as president?
8. What are the downsides of serving as president?
9. How can the president attract attention and popularity?
10. Describe Teddy Roosevelt’s stewardship theory.
11. Why are strong president condemned as president who use imperial power?
12. Is Jefferson right/wrong? “The execution of laws is more important that making them.” Explain your thoughts.
13. What does it really mean to “faithfully execute the law”?
14. How do specific details in executing laws complicate the presidents job?
15. How many people work in the excecutive branch?
16. What is an executive order?
17. What is the ordinance power?
18. Who are some of the top ranking members of government that the president can appoint?
19. Does the president have the power to remove people from government?
20. Why has this been a big issue in US History?
21. What is the position of the Supreme Court in the power of removal by the president?
22. What is a treaty?
23. Why do new presidents underestimate the burdens of office?
24. What is the Senate’s role in making treaties?
25. What happened to the Treaty of Versailles?
26. Why did the framers set a 2/3rd majority rule for treaty approval by the Senate?
27. What is an executive agreement?
28. Why would a president want to use executive agreements?
29. What is the power of recognition?
30. Why is the US recognition of nations such as China and Israel a powerful statement to the world?
31. What is persona non grata?
32. Why is the role commander in chief perhaps the most powerful and important role of the president?
33. Why do presidents fight undeclared wars?
34. Why has Congress not declared war since WWII?
35. Why does the president need the support of Congress not matter what kind of war is being fought?
36. What are other roles our armed forces can play besides fighting?
37. What is the War Powers Resolution of 1973?
38. Why do you think Nixon vetoed the bill?
39. Is this 1973 Resolution Constitutional?
40. Look at page 404. What is the significance of the Monroe Doctrine?
41. Where was it written?
42. Why is the presidents role of presenting/recommending legislation important?
43. What are the 4 actions a president can take on a bill?
44. Why does every president want a “line item veto”?
45. Would this work?
46. What is the power to reprieve, pardon, and clemency?
47. What is the power of amnesty?
Homework #18: Chapter 15 Government at Work The Bureaucracy
Read pages 412-443
1. Look at Schumpeter’s quote on page 412. What is your reaction?
2. What is a bureaucracy?
3. What does this word mean to many Americans?
4. What are the 3 features of a bureaucracy?
5. What are the benefits of a bureaucracy?
6. Does the Constitution allow for a bureaucracy? Explain.
7. Why does a bureaucracy need administration?
8. What are some of the common titles for bureaucratic groups?
9. Look at page 417. Which branch of government is the most bureaucratic?
10. What are staff agencies and line agencies?
11. Which is the most important?
12. What is the right of the president?
13. Why is the EOP so important?
14. What is the nerve center of the EOP?
15. What is the name of the office that they work out of?
16. How many people work in the White House Office?
17. What is the purpose of the National Security Council?
18. How did the NSC get into some trouble in the 1980s?
19. What is the purpose of the Office of Homeland Security?
20. Why is the OMB the largest and most influential agency?
21. What are the official times for the fiscal year?
22. In what way is the OMB a handy man of the president?
23. In what way has the Office of Faith Based and Community been helpful?
24. What is the official name of the “drug czar”?
25. What did Hamilton mean on page 424?
26. Is this possible? Explain.
27. How many executive departments are there?
28. What is the title of the head of each department?
29. Who is in charge of the Department of Justice?
30. Why is it necessary to have so many subunits of each department?
31. How many people work for the Department of Defense total?
32. Look at the chart on page 426. What is the main function of the State Department?
33. Look at the chart on page 426. What is the most important agency in the Dept. of Treasuary?
34. What factors does a president consider when appointing a cabinet member?
35. Who was the first women to serve in a cabinet?
36. Why has diversity in the representation of a presidential cabinet been slow?
37. What are the two major jobs of the cabinet?
38. Summarize Taft’s description of the cabinet on page 429?
39. What was Andrew Jackson’s Kitchen cabinet?
40. Should the president rely on the advice of the cabinet or close friends?
41. What is a independent government agency?
42. Why is it important for NASA or the GSA to be independent?
43. What is the purpose of independent regulatory commissions?
44. Look at the chart on page 432. Which is the most important?
45. Which influences free speech greatly?
46. What do the commission try to protect and promote overall?
47. Do you think that the government has over regulated our country? Explain.
48. Do you think we need more regulation?
49. What is a government corporation?
50. Why is FDIC one of the most important government corporations?
51. Who are civil servants?
52. How many are there?
53. What is the danger of the spoils system and patronage?
54. How does the Pendleton Act protect government?
55. Which agency manages the civil service today?
56. Look at the chart on page 439. What is the profile of the average government worker?
57. Why are the political activities of civil servants restricted?
Homework #19: Chapter 16 Financing Government
Read pages 444-465. Answer the questions.
1. Why does President Polk believe taxes are essential to government? Look on 444.
2. Why is Ben Franklin’s quote so true?
3. What is the official fiscal year in government? Give the dates.
4. In 2004 how much did each person in the US have to pay to finance our government?
5. What are the 3 specific things that taxes are supposed to be used for as outlined in the Constitution?
6. In what ways is the power to tax limited?
7. Should there be more limits or less limits?
8. Explain why.
9. Why must direct taxes be equally spread among the 50 states?
10. How is this unfair when you consider that wealth is not spread equally among the 50 states?
11. When was the first income tax?
12. Why was the 16th Amendment needed to clarify income taxes versus equal distribution of taxes among the 50 states?
13. What court case protects states from being taxed by the federal government?
14. How did South Carolina become an exception to the ruling?
15. What part of the Constitution protects states from federal taxes?
16. What was Oliver Wendell Holmes quote on taxes?
17. What is a progressive tax?
18. In what way is the income tax a flexible tax?
19. How much did individual income taxes generate in 2003?
20. What are exemptions and deductions on income taxes?
21. Why are they allowed?
22. When must taxes be filed by?
23. How many taxes are filed on line each year?
24. Explain the 4 bracket tax cut from President Bush.
25. How do most people pay their income taxes?
26. What does the corporate income tax exactly tax?
27. How is the corporate income tax similar to the personal income tax?
28. What are the 3 basic components of the Social Security Act of 1935?
29. Why are they essential to modern society?
30. Why are the Social Security taxes regressive instead of progressive?
31. What is an excise tax?
32. Why are they called luxury taxes?
33. What is the estate tax and gift tax?
34. How much do you get from your rich dead uncle before it is hit with an estate tax?
35. How high does the estate tax go up?
36. What is a custom duty?
37. Why is the custom duty a major source of income?
38. How can taxes control smoking, alcoholic drinking, owning guns, etc?
39. How were taxes used to protect matchmakers?
40. How much money does our government get form nontax sources?
41. What is interest?
42. How does our government profit from interest charges?
43. How does the US Mint make money for our government?
44. What are the two purposes for the power to borrow money?
45. What events has the power to borrow money financed in the past?
46. What is a deficit?
47. What is a surplus?
48. In the past 40 years why has our government only had 4 years of surplus?
49. Who authorizes the borrowing of money?
50. Who actually does the borrowing of money?
51. How do T Bills finance our borrowing system?
52. Does it work?
53. What is the public debt?
54. How much public debt did we have in 1981?
55. What is amazing about Reagan’s stack quote when compared to today’s debt?
56. How much interest did the US pay on debt in 2002?
57. How far in distance will 2 trillion one dollar bills stretch?
58. Why did US Government income/spending change so dramatically from the 1930s to the present?
59. Can we ever go back to the way it was before 1930?
60. Explain.
61. What are entitlements?
62. Why are entitlements so costly?
63. What is the difference between controllable and uncontrollable spending?
64. Look at the chart on page 460. If you had to cut spending in branches/departments to balance the budget, which ones would you cut?
65. Who initiates the federal budget process?
66. Who actually controls most of the budget process?
67. In what way is this a check/balance?
68. Why does the budget process begin in May and end in September? Why such a long time?
69. What is a continuing resolution?
Homework #20: Chapter 17 Foreign Policy and National Defense
Read pages 466-501.
1. Why does Fenwick believe a good foreign policy must have public consensus?
2. What is the difference between foreign affairs and domestic affairs?
3. Define isolationism.
4. What are the realities of a global village?
5. In what ways is the global village fractured and dangerous?
6. What is the definition of foreign policy?
7. What parts of US foreign policy have never changed over time?
8. Who is the right are of US foreign policy?
9. Who was the first woman to hold the job of Sec of State?
10. What are some agencies that report to the Sec of State?
11. What is the right of legation?
12. What is the official role of ambassadors?
13. How many passports are issued every year?
14. Why are passports vital?
15. What is diplomatic immunity?
16. Do citizens traveling abroad have diplomatic immunity? Why/why not?
17. What two departments were combined to create the Defense Department?
18. How does the Constitution make sure that the military remains in civil control?
19. What are the 2 chief roles of the Sec of Defense?
20. Who are the military advisors to the president?
21. What is the duty of the Department of the Army?
22. How many people serve in the Department of the Navy?
23. Do the Marines work for the Army or Navy?
24. Why did Congress create a Department of the Air Force?
25. What are the 3 tasks for the CIA?
26. Most of the information the CIA gathers comes from where?
27. Why does the CIA require secrecy?
28. Why was the Department of Homeland Security created?
29. What are the 5 resposiblities for Homeland Security?
30. Why is the Department of Homeland Security the most complicated to operate?
31. NASA was created in 1958 in response to what event in history?
32. What are the 2 major tragedies that NASA has had to face?
33. What is the Selective Service System?
34. When did conscription start?
35. Why is the draft law still on the books if we have a volunteer army?
36. What was the foreign policy of the US for the first 150 years?
37. Why did Washington and Jefferson want this?
38. What was the impact of the Monroe Doctrine?
39. How did foreign policy shape the size of the US?
40. When did the US emerge as a world power?
41. How did the Roosevelt Corollary assert US influence in Latin America?
42. Why did the US adopt the Good Neighbor policy?
43. How did the Open Door policy change relations in Asia?
44. How did President Nixon transform Chinese-US relations?
45. Why did the US return to isolationism after WWI?
46. What was the consequence of this action?
47. How did Dec 7,1941 reverse isolationism?
48. Why did the US shift to internationalism?
49. How does collective security keep the world safe?
50. Why is the US the only world super power left today?
51. What is the purpose of deterrence?
52. How did the cold war get its name?
53. Did the Truman Doctrine work? Explain why/why not.
54. How is the Berlin Blockade an example of containment and the cold war?
55. How did the US avoid open war with the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
56. What was the cost of the Korean war? Casualties/$
57. Who won the Korean war?
58. What was the cost of the Vietnam war?
59. How could mighty America not win in Vietnam/Korean Wars?
60. Why did Nixon begin the period of détente?
61. What were the benefits of détente?
62. How did the Cold War end?
63. Why did the US win?
64. Since the end of the cold war the US has had two policies: multilateralism and unilateralism. Define each
65. Which is the best one for the US? Why?
66. How much foreign aid has the US sent around the world since the end of WWII?
67. Why do we do this?
68. Why have events such as the Marshall Plan been examples of successful foreign aid?
69. What is the new purpose of the alliance called NATO?
70. Why are security alliances needed?
71. When was the United Nations formed?
72. How many members are there in the UN?
73. What is the governing body called in the UN?
74. What is the purpose of the UN Security Council?
75. What have been some successful points in the history of the UN?
Homework #21: Chapter 18 Federal Court System
Read pages 504-527. Answer the questions.
1. What is essential about John Marshall’s quote on page 505?
2. Without a Federal Court, how were laws interpreted during the years of the Articles of Confederation?
3. How are laws a dead letter without courts?
4. How does the Dual Court System work?
5. Why are there 2 kinds of federal courts?
6. What is the purpose of a federal court?
7. What is the job of a special court?
8. What does jurisdiction mean?
9. Why do most cases ended up before a state court instead of a federal court?
10. What are the 2 most significant criteria for a case to be heard before a federal court?
11. What is the difference between exclusive jurisdiction and concurrent jurisdiction?
12. What is the difference between the plaintiff and defendant?
13. What type of jurisdiction describes a case that is first heard in court?
14. What kind of jurisdiction does a court have when a case is appealed?
15. Why do district and appeals courts have only one kind of jurisdiction?
16. How is a judge appointed?
17. What is a judicial activists?
18. What kind of judge uses judicial restraint?
19. Why is the appointment of judges indeed a very political process?
20. How long do most judges serve and how much do they get paid?
21. What kind of workers make up the Court Officers?
22. Who does the US Marshall work for?
23. What are inferior courts?
24. How many federal district courts are there?
25. Why does New York have 4 district courts?
26. What are the main two types of cases heard before a district court?
27. Why is it rare to have a district court decision appealed?
28. How are the Courts of Appeal gatekeepers to the US Supreme Court?
29. How many judges sit to hear a ordinary appeals case?
30. What does en banc mean?
31. How many appeals cases are heard each year?
32. What is the Court of International Trade for?
33. What is the purpose of the court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit?
34. What does a blindfolded woman standing on a scale represent?
35. What gives the Supreme Court equal power to the Judicial and Executive Branch?
36. What is judicial review?
37. Describe the significance of the court case Marbury v. Madison?
38. How did John Marshall rule in the case?
39. Why is this case the mother of all court cases?
40. Describe the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
41. How many cases are appealed to the Supreme Court?
42. About how many of those cases are actually heard before the Supreme Court?
43. Why are about half of the Supreme Court cases returned to lower courts?
44. What is the writ of certiorari?
45. How can a case reach the Supreme Court by certificate?
46. What are the 4 steps taken by the Supreme Court when they review a case?
47. What is the importance of the majority opinion?
48. How do majority opinions establish precedents?
49. What is a concurring opinion?
50. What is the dissenting opinion?
51. Why does the dissenting opinion matter?
52. How does the Court of Federal Claims redress a person’s claim?
53. What are territorial courts for?
54. Why does Washington DC have its own special court?
55. The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces listens mostly to what kinds of cases?
56. The purpose of a military tribunal is to????
57. The US Tax Court listens to cases mostly from which federal agency?
Homework #22: Chapter 19 Civil Liberties
Read pages 530-560.
1. According to Eleanor Roosevelt, when is democracy in danger?
2. In what way can ordinary citizens like Clarence Gideon play a role in protecting our rights?
3. Why was there an outcry when the original Constitution did not make a listing of the rights of people?
4. How was this corrected?
5. Which 8 amendments protect our rights?
6. What is the difference between civil liberties and civil rights?
7. How does the Bill of Rights support limited government?
8. How are the rights of the individual relative to the rights of others?
9. What did the case Sheppard v. Maxwell decide?
10. What TV show/movie is based on this case?
11. How does the Constitution protect the rights of aliens?
12. Why are the Bill of Rights a restriction on national government and not state government?
13. How was the 14th Amendment modified to protect the rights of people from the national and state government?
14. Why is the process of incorporation so important to protecting our rights from state government?
15. How is the 9th Amendment used by the Supreme Court?
16. How is it impossible to have a free society without the freedom of expression?
17. Which two amendments can protect religious freedom?
18. What is the establishment clause?
19. What did the case Pierce v. Society of Sisters decide in 1925?
20. Why did the courts allow New Jersey to bus kids to parochial school using tax dollars?
21. Why do courts support released times for prayer?
22. What did Abigndon v. Schempp decide in 1963?
23. So how can we begin the day at BWHS with a moment of silence?
24. Can religious student groups meet at school?
25. How is this?
26. What is the courts view on evolution?
27. Can state/local governments give financial aid to parochial schools?
28. What is a lemon test?
29. What are the 3 parts to a lemon test?
30. Why did the courts support vouchers in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris?
31. What is the court view on Seasonal Displays?
32. Why can the legislatures of state government begin each day with a prayer and not schools?
33. What is the free exercise clause?
34. What are the limits to the free exercise clause?
35. In what 2 ways are the freedoms to exchange ideas secured?
36. Why is libel and slander not protected?
37. How has the government attempted to limit sedition in the past?
38. Why have the courts supported these limits?
39. What 3 steps does the court take to determine obscenity?
40. What is the name of the court case that determined this?
41. Can a state make it a crime to possess or view child pornography?
42. Why do courts believe that they can limit the freedom of expression and control obscenity?
43. What is prior restraint?
44. Why do the courts not allow our government to stop the saying/publication of ideas before they are expressed?
45. What exceptions are there to this?
46. What are shield laws?
47. What did the court decide in Bransburg v. Hayes 1972?
48. At first, how did the courts treat the motion picture industry?
49. Why did they change the ruling in 195 Burstyn v. Wilson?
50. Why are radio and television subject to extensive federal regulation?
51. Why are satellite radio/TV not subjected to regulation?
52. What is symbolic speech?
53. Why does the court support wearing armbands, picketing, marching non violently?
54. Why has the court not supported protection of the US Flag from flames?
55. Is commercial speech protected too?
56. When does the court limit the freedom of commercial speech?
57. Why does the Constitution only protect the right to peacable assembly?
58. What types of government regulation of public gatherings are supported by the courts?
59. Can the KKK have a march in downtown Blacksburg, VA?
60. Does the right to assemble give demonstrators the right to trespass on private property?
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